# deterrence
Latest news and articles about deterrence
Total: 36 articles found

Iran Puts Air Force on Highest Alert, Sending a Regional Deterrence Message
Iran’s armed forces chief of staff announced that the air force is at the highest state of readiness, presenting the posture as defensive deterrence while warning adversaries of severe consequences for aggression. The move signals Tehran’s intent to shape regional calculations amid ongoing tensions with the US, Israel and Gulf states, and raises the risk of miscalculation if actions follow the rhetoric.

CCTV Footage Shows PLA’s Eastern Coast Missiles Kept Upright Around the Clock — A Signal of Readiness and Deterrence
CCTV aired footage of PLA missile units along China’s eastern coast keeping launchers upright around the clock and crews in sustained high-readiness. Presented as a deterrent against Taiwan independence and recent Taipei drills, the posture shortens launch timelines but raises logistical, safety and escalation risks.

Arms as Leverage: Why Washington, Tehran and Jerusalem Are Flexing Ahead of Oman Talks
In the days before Oman‑hosted talks, the US, Iran and Israel have all escalated military posturing. Chinese analyst Qin Tian argues these moves are intended both to strengthen bargaining positions and to prevent accidental escalation, while regional states work to avert broader conflict.

Iran Parades Advanced Ballistic Missile Ahead of US Talks, Signalling Hardened Deterrence
The IRGC unveiled the Khorramshahr‑4 medium‑range ballistic missile and an underground missile facility on 4 February, touting a 2,000 km range, 1,500 kg warhead and improved accuracy and re‑entry speed. The demonstration, timed ahead of narrowly focused US‑Iran nuclear talks in Muscat, is a strategic signal that Iran's missile deterrent is non‑negotiable and intended to shape regional and Western calculations.

Iran Says It Has Upgraded Ballistic Missiles and Adopted Offensive Doctrine After '12-Day' War
Iran announced technical upgrades to its ballistic missile forces and a shift from defensive to offensive military doctrine after last year's 12-day conflict with Israel. The move is intended to strengthen deterrence, complicate potential strikes against Iran, and bolster Tehran’s leverage ahead of planned nuclear talks with the United States in Muscat.

Stakes of Scope: Iran Insists Muscat Talks Stay Narrow as U.S. Seeks Missile Guarantees
Iran and the United States will meet in Muscat to discuss Tehran’s nuclear programme, but a dispute over whether ballistic missiles should be on the agenda threatens to overshadow the talks. Tehran insists on a nuclear‑only mandate while Washington seeks broader guarantees, leaving the outcome uncertain and the regional security climate fragile.

Sleepless on the Coast: Inside the Eastern Theatre’s Mobile Missile Vigil
A Chinese Eastern Theatre Command ground‑based air‑defence unit has been operating from mobile shelters along the coast, maintaining relentless tracking and readiness for hours at a time. The deployment underscores China’s emphasis on mobility and survivability in coastal defence, while illustrating the personnel strain and escalation risks that accompany persistent high alert.

Talks in Muscat Test Iran‑US Divide as Tehran Bars Missile Agenda
Iran and the United States will meet in Muscat to discuss nuclear issues, but Tehran insists the agenda exclude its ballistic‑missile programme, which Washington wants included. The clash over scope reflects deeper strategic disagreements and raises the likelihood that talks will be limited unless both sides accept sequencing or parallel tracks.

Tehran Insists on Nuclear-Only Talks as US Pushes to Broaden Agenda
Iran and the United States are set to hold talks in Muscat on February 6, but Tehran insists the agenda be limited to nuclear issues while Washington is pushing to include Iran’s ballistic missile programme. The disagreement over scope, combined with recent military signalling from Iran, raises the stakes for a fragile negotiation that could either defuse or inflame regional tensions.

As AUKUS Stalls, Analysts Float B-2 Purchase as a Stopgap for Australia’s Deterrent Gap
With the AUKUS submarine programme facing mounting delays and political hurdles, some Western analysts have proposed Australia acquire US B‑2 stealth bombers as an alternative means of long‑range deterrence. The proposal highlights the gap between strategic ambitions and procurement realities, but faces steep legal, logistical and political barriers that make it unlikely as a straightforward solution.

On the Eastern Seaboard, China’s Frontline Troops Send a Stark Message of Readiness
A reporter's on-the-ground account from China's eastern coast highlights intensive, joint frontline readiness intended as both practical defence preparation and political deterrence. The story underscores how routine drills and heightened operational tempo raise the stakes for miscalculation in a crowded maritime theatre.

US Forces at Iran’s Doorstep — But the Crucial Window for Influence Has Closed
US forces are positioned close to Iran, but a critical period in which decisive pressure or punitive action would have been most effective has passed. That missed timing narrows US options, increases regional instability, and forces difficult choices between costly escalation and containment backed by diplomacy.